August 24, 2010Read: 1 Chronicles 4

“Oh Lord, that you would bless me indeed and increase my land. Keep your hand upon me and protect me from the evil one, so that I may not cause pain.” –-1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Most news networks finish their broadcast on a lighthearted note, and if you missed this one, allow me. A high school basketball coach was bet by the students that he couldn’t make a shot from half court. If he made it, they’d give him courtside tickets to this year’s NCAA Final Four Tournament; a crown jewel to many a basketball fan. But in order to make it to the promised land of hoops, he’d have to make the shot…blindfolded.

Okay, I’ll be quick…he made it alright. I mean, they gave him the ball, he dribbled it a couple times and woosh…nothin’ but net. The students went crazy, partly because it was an unbelievable shot, but also because they never had those tickets in the first place (oops!). Improbable odds with an impossible prize.

You know, I wonder what Noah thought, when he felt that first drop of rain. Or the look on Peter’s face when his boat was sinking from all the fish he caught. I’m sure any doubts were either washed away or grilled.

Friends, it’s time to pray big and give God the ball. He can make our one-in-a-million shots with our eyes closed.

--J.P.

WATER: THE ULTIMATE FAT-BURNER Turns out that the clear stuff may be an effective way to lose weight -- and keep it off

The fitness industry is bursting at the seams with dollars made from fad diets, here-and-gone workout programs and pricey supplements. People are looking for the magic bullet for weight loss and while the aforementioned methods can have some benefit, it turns out that water may be your strongest ally in your war on fat.

A recent study published in the journal Obesity showed that subjects on a low-calorie diet who drank 16 ounces of water prior to meals lost an average of 15.5 pounds over three months and kept it off -- or lost additional weight -- after a year of the same regimen.

While the mechanisms aren't fully understood, it is thought that water helps to fill you up ahead of your meal, reducing the amount of food you're likely to consume at each sitting. Also, consuming more H2O means that you are less likely to guzzle calorie-laden beverages.

So if you're looking to lose weight, try drinking 16 ounces of water prior to meals, while also sticking to a modest-calorie diet and regular exercise.

Source: CNN Health

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